Are you looking for simple steps to take care of your skin? Today, with the rise of the internet, you can get opinions from dermatologists and experts with a few clicks.
However, it may seem complicated to go through everything and filter out what routine will suit you. But don’t worry, I have summarised it for you.
In this article, I’ll be listing out daily skincare routines according to your skin type that will give you effective results.
Skin Type
Before I list the skincare routine, it’s crucial for you to find out your skin type. Generally, people the following skin types:
- Normal skin
- Sensitive skin
- Oily skin
- Dry skin
- Combination skin
- Other
Since there are so many types, you may get confused about which one is yours. You could book an appointment with a dermatologist for the same or read below to find out.
Normal skin:
This skin type is neither too oily or dry. Overall, it has a regular texture and does not react adversely to products or chemicals.
Sensitive skin:
Sensitive skin type usually reacts when a product is applied. Simply put, the skin is quite delicate and irritated more quickly than other skin types. So, the range of products is limited as sensitive skin tends to turn red, get inflamed etc.
Hence, their skins only accept a limited spectrum of cosmetic products and mild chemicals.
Oily skin:
In this skin type, the surface and texture mostly have excessive oils, and the pores are often clogged with dirt or pollution. Thus, it also makes their skin prone to acne, scars etc.
Dry skin:
The dry skin type generally gets heightened during cold and dry seasons such as winters. The skin tends to become tight, rough, and appear flaky in such cases. Dry skin is also weaker, breaking quickly, resulting in cracks in the dry areas.
Combination skin:
This skin type consists of oily and dry areas on the face or body. Generally, the cheeks are dry or normal, and the T zone( forehead, nose and chin) section is oily.
Other:
Even though the list of the skin types is already quite long, there are a few other kinds of skin which require different treatments. For instance, blemishes, scaly skin, red spots etc can appear on the skin due to environmental factors like humidity or health issues.
Daily skin routine
The daily skincare routine typically begins after waking up. So, after you are done cleaning up, it’s best to start doing your morning skincare routine regularly. The steps for the skincare routine are as follows:
- Exfoliating or Cleansing
- Toner
- Serum
- Moisturiser
- Sunscreen
These are the basic steps you will need to follow in chronological order to remove excess dirt or pollution from your skin and heal it. However, these instructions can vary on your skin type, but don’t worry; I’ll guide you on everything right from scratch.
Normal skin
For folks out there who have normal skin types, they can simply follow the skincare routine without any changes.
However, if they feel their skin needs a deep cleaning, they can choose to exfoliate, but cleansing should be thoroughly done, so there’s no real need for exfoliating. Also, one should be careful not to over-exfoliate, which can cause unnecessary damage to the skin.
You can choose to exfoliate once in two or three weeks. For cleansing, you can use a standard face wash, and you could skip the serum step in case you do not have any spots on your face.
Author’s Note: It’s very easy to go overboard with exfoliating. It can damage the lipid barrier of the facial skin and cause swelling or puffiness. Hence, if you have a normal skin type, you should be very careful when it comes to exfoliating.
Sensitive skin
For those who have sensitive skin, the skincare routine is similar. The main thing for sensitive skin types is to be careful with their product choices since your skin is more vulnerable and fragile than others.
Ensure that your toners are light containing natural ingredients like rosewater which have hydrating properties. Moreover, apply thick oil or petroleum based moisturisers to prevent the loss of moisture.
If you are not comfortable with cosmetic products, you may go for home remedies but remember to always do a patch test before.
Oily skin
If you have an oily skin type, then exfoliation and toning of your skin should be mandatory for your skincare routine. You can choose AHA based gentle exfoliators and do it at least twice or thrice a week.
Ensure you are scrubbing well to remove the stubborn whiteheads, blackheads and dirt from your skin. When it comes to whether you should cleanse first or exfoliate, you should go for cleansing to remove dirt from the upper layers of the skin.
Then, exfoliation can help you get rid of the dead skin cells. For toners, it’s advisable to go for products with ingredients like sodium PCA or geranium but avoid alcohol-based toners; they can dehydrate your skin.
You may find it surprising, but even oily skin types need to moisturise. Any flaky or dry skin will cause more damage as it cracks and invites microorganisms or dirt, leading to a bad skin condition.
Thus, using a mild or light moisturiser, it’s best to choose oil-free or water-based.
Dry skin
For those who have dry skin, their skin routine is somewhat similar to the sensitive skin types. It’s essential to cleanse and exfoliate, but it shouldn’t go overboard as dry skin types do not have excess oil that needs to be removed.
Purchase cleansers that do not lather or make foams. In short, choose a cleanser that will help you get rid of the dirt on the surface of your skin but does not dehydrate the skin.
Combination skin
If you have a combination skin type, you will need to follow the skincare routine steps for both oily and dry skin types. Fortunately, toners available in the market work well for combination skin types.
For cleansing, you can choose face wash with anti-acne properties, but if you feel it’s harsh on your skin, go for a mild cleanser. Also, when it comes to moisturising, it’s okay to use oil-based ones.
However, remember to find the right balance of moisturisers that hydrate your skin and control the oiliness in your skin.
Authors Note: Sunscreens are safe and can be used for all skin types. You should apply it on the exposed areas especially the face whenever you are travelling outside
Conclusion
In a nutshell, a skincare routine depends on various factors such as skin type, preference etc. However, all daily skincare routines consist of cleansing and moisturising the skin so that dust or microorganisms do not attack the skin and maintain its smooth texture. Skipping important steps like applying sunscreen can also cause damage to your skin. Thus, try to be consistent with your skincare routine to see the desired results.
